Understanding climate and environmental impacts for vulnerable residents in Tulsa

A resident walks past downed power lines. Credit: Mike Simons/Tulsa World, via Associated Press

The Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program’s (SCIPP) Theme 4, Climate Justice, assesses how cities in the South Central U.S. are adapting to climate change and whether they consider the needs of vulnerable residents in their plans. As part of this work, Ph.D. student Olivia VanBuskirk and Co-PI Dr. Lauren Mullenbach recently conducted field work in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to investigate how community members are impacted by extreme weather events – namely extreme heat and flooding – and what steps the City of Tulsa is taking to prepare for the future. After conducting their research, SCIPP investigators compiled a final report on their findings entitled: “Understanding Climate and Environmental Impacts for Vulnerable Residents in Tulsa.”